16 October 2011

The midfielder knows very well that in order to enjoy further success this season, the challenge for the team is to have the ambition to better themselves. On the day of his reappearance, the player performed brilliantly.

After recovering from an injury sustained against AC Milan in the Champions League, Andrés Iniesta excelled in his long-awaited reappearance against Racing Santander. In an interview with ‘El Marcador’ on Barça TV, the Barça player said he was happy with the way he is playing and added that “although there is still a world to go, the feelings I get from the squad are the kind that suggest things are going well”. But Iniesta is sure that “every year it gets harder to be better than the rest … it is important for the team to take this as a challenge, to always want to better ourselves”.

He then said that “doing what we did last year doesn’t mean we can assume we’ll achieve the same this time … the team must never stop learning and improving”, especially because “other teams do things differently when they play us”. So, Iniesta thinks that the second challenge is “to look for different ways of playing in order to counter the things our opponents do”.

Last night he played a role in creating both of Messi’s goals, the second of which was scored after his own amazing run had ended with the ball hitting the post, with the Argentinian following up on the rebound. Speaking about his colleague, Iniesta commented that “we always try to make the most of our qualities and play … every team has its virtues and defects, and we try to make sure that only a minimum number of things need improving últimes.”

The FCB star also said that “I was desperate to return to action” and that in last night’s game he felt fine. “When you go out onto the pitch you always give 100 per cent, and it is very hard to think about reserving yourself. That isn’t my way of thinking, and neither is the way my team mates think”.

Iniesta admitted that “it is always difficult to play matches after international breaks … It’s not because you don’t want to, but it’s always difficult. Everybody is returning from somewhere and sometimes your opponents have had the whole week to prepare for the match. It’s always hard, but this time we managed to get three points and we’re happy about that”. (via FCBarcelona.cat)

The Italian press insists in the possible transfer from the defender azulgrana to Luis Enrique group.

The story goes back to the preseason. From the moment when Luis Enrique took over Rome, the rumor of a possible transfer to Italian club Martín Montoya has been a constant. Both sides have denied the operation with the same ease with which they have fed their continued winks in the press. The last chapter has been written with statements by the representative of the right full-back of Barça B, Josep Maria Orobitg, portal 'ForzaRoma. info '. "The coach has a lot of appreciation and considers it one of the most promising players in this position."

In Italy, Roma insist that Montoya would be thinking as reinforcement for rear, while the announced renewal of the defense continues for ever.

In any case, Orobitg itself noted that "at present there is nothing to Rome." The information also includes the Barca squad is in the crosshairs of Bayern Munich and Valencia.

Doubts should be resolved in the coming days if Martin Montoya finally extends the contract and just one stroke with all kinds of speculation coming from Italian soil. (via SPORT)

The goalkeeper remains unbeaten after four league matches at home, but he wanted to play down his efforts: "We are defending well and do not let us believe many occasions. I try to help with my job, "he stated.

Three to zero and might drop some more, but what is becoming common is that the Blaugrana team keep a clean sheet in their field. There are now four games played in the Camp Nou in La Liga this season, but the team still does not receive a goal in his goal. Have been key to good defense, the pressure of the attackers and the great performances of Victor Valdes , who has already surpassed Andoni Zubizarreta in league games played. The return of Puyol gives the team an even greater defensive security.

"In the first minute we had noticed that the right pace to win the game, but we have grown slowly to develop our game," stated Victor Valdes reference to the dreaded virus FIFA after the match against Racing de Santander . He has also praised Messi after his great performance: "Leo demonstrates every day that is the best player in the world and also helps us to improve others."

What follows is the most interesting statements of other players in the FC Barcelona .

Xavi:
"Thiago is such a complete player who can play anywhere. It is a player of an extraordinary degree, both to attack and defend. "

Referring to the large number of minutes of Thiago: "Pep always gives opportunities to the players of team."

"The game has not been very attractive because the Racing did not want. "

"Make two goals early very well come to us to get our rhythm."

Pedro:
"We played a good game against a team that defends very well."

"It was a pity that did not enter the Chilean Abidal, we had very happy for him. You will have another chance. " (via FCBarcelona.cat)

"It's not a matter of cause and effect, Piqué had been injured before going to Spain," said Guardiola who fled a controversial penalty also with another unmarked Messi.

The only negative of the Barcelona comfortable win against Racing Santander came to the injury of Pique, who will be two weeks out with a muscle problem. This injury comes after the central play 180 minutes in two games of the selection shortly after recovering from another muscle injury. Pep Guardiola, Barcelona coach has made it clear he does not want polemics with Vicente del Bosque and Selection: "The coach calls the players he sees fit, and in fact for us was a good thing to play with Spain because it helped to pick up the pace he needed for the previous injury. The problem is that it has re-injured but there is no question of cause and effect. already injured before without playing with Spain. It has nothing to do with that injury ".

Guardiola has not wanted to enter into discussions even though arbitration as against Valencia and Sporting, has been brought to a penalty not Leo Messi: "I have nothing to say about that. If the referee whistled is not because they saw it" .

For the coach of Barcelona, ​​the victory was far from easy and had no problem recognizing that the way to defend the Racing influenced the alignment of Barcelona, ​​which came with Thiago, Xavi and Iniesta in midfield: "Thiago has been very good because it is very technical but also very strong and is a player working. As the home player, you know understand what you ask and why it has been well in the midfield but is usually more comfortable playing inside. We wanted to get many players imbalance the gameplay of Racing, which builds players in the midfield and make it hard sometimes. Cuper parties works very well and so I wanted to have players that could unbalance. "

Guardiola has said he has not taken any special treatment after another bruising Messi with Argentina, "all I have to do is give you the shirt with the ten and get to play" and that line says he will not consider the 'FIFA virus' as a significant factor in some of the earlier missteps of the team, "is what is said but if we lose or draw in a match that does not go after those selections, look for other arguments.'s up to us to do what ensure that this does not affect us probably would have cost even more away from home ". (via AS)

The player has pulled a hamstring in his right leg and is going to be out of action for a fortnight.

Just eight minutes into the game at home to Racing, Gerard Piqué was replaced by Éric Abidal after pulling the biceps femoris in his right thigh. Tests on the player have revealed the extent of the hamstring injury, and it is estimated that he will be sidelined for about half a month.

Two goals from Messi and another from Xavi gave FC Barcelona a win over Racing Santander at the Camp Nou. With Iniesta back in the team, Barça stay top of the league table for another week.

This time the international break had no effect on FC Barcelona as they cruised to a 3-0 win over Racing Santander to hold onto top spot in the Liga table. They did so by staying faithful to their usual system, despite nine of the starting eleven having played international fixtures this week. Leo Messi was the star once again, scoring the first and third goals of the game, with Xavi adding another in between as the his side dominated the Cantabrians from start to finish. The performance was an ideal confidence booster ahead of two more important games at the Camp Nou against Viktoria Plzeň and Sevilla.

For the first time this season, Guardiola started a match without either Busquets or Mascherano. Puyol and Piqué started in the centre of defence, although the latter withdrew injured shortly after kickoff, while Thiago acted as the linkman between defence and midfield. The football flowed as brilliantly as ever, with absolutely no sign of tiredness among the many internationals. The first goal came after a delightful combination play involving Iniesta and Messi. The Argentinian, with just four touches of the ball, left Bernardo and Toño standing before scoring an absolute peach of a goal. It also meant he has now beaten Kubala’s record.

The first half was a constant onslaught on the Racing goal. It was only a matter of time before FCB scored again, and that happened on the half hour, when Xavi nodded home a Pedro cross from the left. Puyol and Villa, twice, also had chances to extend the lead against a Racing side that had certainly come to play football, but Hector Cuper’s rapid-paced style only played right into the hands of the home side.

Nothing changed after the break. Barça continued to dominate possession and generate chance after chance. The pace may have eased off slightly, but it was still ideal for Catalans, who appreciated the drop in intensity due to possible fatigue in the wake of so much travelling over the last week. But there was still another goal to come, and that started with Andrés Iniesta going on a terrific run and then striking the ball onto the post, where Messi was ready to cannon the rebound into the net.

The 3-0 scoreline satisfied Guardiola that the team had done its job, and Iniesta, who was playing his first game since getting injured against AC Milan and Pedro, who played for Spain on Tuesday against Scotland, were both brought off early. Keita and Adriano took their place in a game that almost ended with an amazing overhead goal from Abidal. You just never know what to expect from Barça, but it’s almost always amazing! The magic continues… (via FCBarcelona.cat)

Incidents: 82,225 spectators attended the match in game for the eighth day of the First Division. Before the match observed a minute of silence in memory of Chus Pereda, who plays for Barcelona between 1961 and 1969, who died on September 27 at age 73.